Dog Trafficking Case Investigated, Puppy Recovered Months After Petland Theft: Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Months after six puppies were stolen from a Bradenton Petland store, a 34-year-old man faces charges in Manatee County as part of a regional dog trafficking case spanning several Florida counties, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

An Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigation of the theft of a French bulldog taken from his owner at gunpoint led to the larger dog trafficking investigation, which included the recovery of a Chug puppy stolen from the Bradenton pet store in March.

Around 1 a.m. on March 12, two suspects shattered the Petland's glass front door with a brick to enter the store and stole six puppies worth around $35,000, MCSO said. Both suspects were caught on the store’s surveillance camera and video footage shows them smashing the door, entering the store and putting the puppies in a bag.

During the multi-jurisdictional investigation, Ronnie Baker was identified as a suspect, the sheriff’s office said. In May, an arrest warrant for burglary to a structure was issued for Baker.

When authorities searched his home, the stolen dogs weren’t found. Detectives found clothing similar to what the suspects were seen wearing during the burglary in surveillance footage from Petland.

Related Story: Six Puppies Stolen From Petland Worth $35,000: Sheriff

Baker, who was in Orange County Jail on unrelated charges at the time, refused to provide a statement. Since the investigation involved cases in multiple Florida counties and was still active, MCSO didn’t immediately release details of his arrest.

Of the six puppies stolen from the Petland in Bradenton, only the Chug was recovered.